FILE - President Sisi meets with Tanzania's Minister for Defense and National Service Hussein Mwinyi, in the presence of Mohamed Zaki, Egyptian minister of defense, and Tanzania's ambassador to Egypt - press photo

Sisi, Tanzania's defense minister talk bolstering bilateral ties

CAIRO - 14 March 2019: Tanzania's Minister for Defense and National Service Hussein Mwinyi affirmed his country's keenness to strengthen relations with Egypt in various fields. He expressed his country's appreciation for the technical support Egypt has provided to Tanzania.

This came during Mwinyi's meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi on Wednesday, in the presence of Mohamed Zaki, Egyptian minister of defense, and Tanzania's ambassador to Egypt, presidential spokesman Bassam Radi said.

Mwinyi, during the meeting, conveyed the greetings and appreciation of Tanzanian President John Magufuli to Sisi, praising the deep and special relations between the two countries.

The Tanzanian minister congratulated President Sisi on Egypt's assumption of the African Union presidency for 2019, praising Egypt's pivotal role in supporting peace and stability in Africa.

Mwinyi expressed Tanzania's aspiration to enhance cooperation between the defense ministries of the two countries, especially coordination in combating terrorism.

He also lauded Egypt's progress in the military industries and national projects currently being implemented, stressing Tanzania's aspiration to benefit from the technological and human expertise of the Egyptian military production companies.

For his part, President Sisi affirmed Egypt's keenness to enhance relations between Egypt and Tanzania in various realms, especially in light of Sisi's successful visit to Tanzania in August 2017, the presidential spokesman said. Sisi referred to the signing of an agreement to construct the Stiegler's Gorge Dam in Tanzania, which took place earlier.

The dam would be built by a coalition of The Arab Contractors Egyptian Company and El Sewedy Electric at a cost of $3.6 billion, according to earlier reports. Stiegler's Gorge Hydroelectric Power Station is expected to produce 5,920 GWh of power annually to fill the electricity and energy shortage in the country.

The president also welcomed the military cooperation with Tanzania, adding that the two countries have a common history in defending the issues of the African continent, and seeking to achieve its interests, Radi said.